Husky Satellite Lab Divisions

Acting as the flagship mission of HSL, the HuskySat-2 Divisions CubeSat (HS-2) aims to reshape GPS independent navigation for the small-sat industry. Funded by the University Nanosatellite Program, this divisions primary payload will demonstrate GPS-independent optical navigation software through an in-house developed and open-source system including:

• LOST: Open-source Star Tracker. Extensively optimized to run on low-powered hardware, this piece of software identifies on-camera constellations to determine which way the satellite is pointing. It provides a free and publicly available alternative to expensive and proprietary solutions.
• FOUND: Open-source Universal Navigation Determiner. This custom-designed system precisely calculates the satellite's orbital trajectory by using a clever algorithm to analyze pictures of the Earth.

This navigation system will be publicly accessible, providing low-cost and open-source alternatives to attitude and position measurements! Additionally, this system creates a new pathway for navigation around the moon and other celestial bodies. Overall, HS-2 is one of the most critical foundations to our future HSL missions around the lunar surface (see HSL’s HS-3 Division for more details!).

To reach our labs ultimate goal of lunar exploration, the HuskySat-3 Division is developing our most advanced satellite, HS-3. This 6U/12U CubeSat will map lava tubes beneath the lunar surface using ground-penetrating radar, identifying hospitable locations for future lunar bases.

This division will be fostering the most ground-breaking satellite our lab has developed, featuring many subsystems such as Reaction Wheels, Solar Panels, Propulsion, Flight Computer, Communications, and much much more. Our labs bleeding-edge software (LOST & FOUND) will also be onboard HS-3 to provide autonomous decision-making capabilities and orbital parameters.

All in-house developed hardware and software on HS-3 will be open-source and publicly accessible. With this division at the forefront of these initiatives, their satellites success will lay the groundwork for the future deep-space CubeSat missions to come!

Committed to making CubeSats deep space worthy, HSL established the Propulsion Research & Development Division to advance propulsion systems and engines. The division currently has three systems of focus: a green monopropellant system, an electrospray system, and a vapor hot gas system. Each system serves a specific purpose for deep space exploration using CubeSats.

The Propulsion R&D division takes these systems from conception all the way through design and iteration, as well as testing and system proofing. Members dabble in all areas of engineering and the work they perform is very research heavy!

While the CubeSat missions like HS-3 are the primary beneficiaries of this research and testing, Propulsion R&D’s groundbreaking work also impacts the broader propulsion industry, one propellant system at a time.

External relationships, funding, and organizational growth: this is just a bit of the work that’s done in the Business Division at HSL. This division focuses on creating social branding, securing external partnerships, and developing funding strategies for our ambitious space missions.

They handle topics such as grant applications, corporate partnerships, community outreach initiatives and collaborate closely with all technical divisions to meet their needs.

One of their most resent initiatives included the Mission CHNOOK community engagement payload: a payload whose efforts brought students, Washington State community members, and non-profit kids worldwide a chance to reach for the stars (see Mission CHNOOK for more details on the mission!).